The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-09
From the Sdnskra: TrdRsLated for The Ark onSdW TraUeieT, ty Ralph L. Goodrich
 KATHA SARIT SAGARA.


 Thus wealth acquired by ones vir- tue remains imperishable. but other wise 1t is evanescent like drops Of dew beneath the falling water. Hence a man should endeavor to obtain wealth by fair means, and a Raja especially since wealth is the root of the tree of sovereignty. Therefore properly honor all your ministers for success, and 0 king, make conquest of all these regions in order to obtain a prosperity that will be chiefly charac- terized by virtue. Being intimately related by consanguinity with two royal fathers-in-law, many Raias will not contend against, but will become associated with you. But this great king of Benares, Bramahdatta by name, has always been your enemy, therefore first conquer him; having conquered him, then conquer the east. and gradually this whole region, and make exalted the glory of the Pandas, splendid like the Lotus. Thus the Raja of Vatsa, being eager for con- quest, was spoken to by his ministers, and he said, ''so be it." and com manded his subjects to undertake the campaign. The king, skillful poli- tician, gave to his brother in- law. Gopalaka, the government of the Vedeha country out of courtesy on account of his hospitality; and fur thermore he gave to the brother of Padmarati, ,Sinhavarman, who came to him with his army, the country of Cedi, and conferred honors upon him. The king caused to be brought his friend, Pulindaka, Raja of the Bhillas, who extended over the regions with his forces like clouds in the rainy season. And while this expedition was begin ming in the kingdom of this great king, a strange confusion was engen- dered ill the hearts of his enemies And 1augandharayana sent out his spies to Benares to find out the move ments of the Raja Brahmadatta. And then upon lucky day, being grati- fled by the presages that announced victory, the king of Vatsa went first to the east against Brahmadatta. He mounted high, conquering elephant, on which were his lofty umbrellas, as the fierce king of beasts climbs a mountain on which there is a single full-blown tree. Success was indi- cated by the autumn, arriving as if an ambassador of victory, and showing an easy road over streams where there was but little water. He filled the surface of the earth with his loud shouting armies, causing one to mis- take 1t wholly for rainy season with out clouds The regions around were as if confounded by the reverberation of his trampling army, and foretold to one another the fear of his coming. His horses, whose golden coats of mail were enhanced by the splendor of the sun, pranced along as if followed by the fire which was pleased with his lustration of the army. His ele- phants making their white ears into fly fans, while streams of liquid oozed out of their cheeks colored with red lead, appeared on the road like the off springs from the frightened moun- tains, upon which were white autumn clouds, from which rolled down liquid metal, sent forth to the expe- dition. "This Raja cannot endure that the power of another should be pro- claimed" thus thinking the dust of the earth hid the splendor of the sun. And the two queens followed him on the road step by step, drawn to the king by his talents and virtues, like the goddesses of Fame and Victory. Bow down or flee," thus it was spoken, as it were, by the banner cloths of his army, which were waited here and there by the wind. Thus he went through the regions, seeing the white lotuses blooming like the ex- banded hood of the serpent terrified with fear of the end of the world. And in the meantime the spies ap- pointed by Yaugandharayana, and who observed the VOW of bearing skulls, came to the city of Benares. And one of these, knowing rogue, exhibiting his art as fortune teller, had recourse to the character of a teacher, and the others acted as his scholars. "This spiritual guide is omniscient," thus the scholars praised the pretcnded teacher, who went about here and there begging his food. What ever the fortune teller declared of fires, etc., in the future of those asking, his scholars secretly brought it to pass; so he became famous. He made certain Raja's son, servant there, and fa- vorite of the king, his own, and at tached to him, by his vile perform ances. And Brahmadatta, learning from the. communications of this Raja servant, became acquainted with all the secrets when the war with the king of Vatsa arose. Then the min ister of Brahmadatta, Yogakarandka, plotted against the king of Vatsa as he came on the road He corruptad